If you are looking for an engaging way to package your lesson materials and resources for students, iBooks Author is a fantastic option! iBooks Author is a free tool for the MacBook that allows you to create awesome interactive iBooks that include your class materials. An iBook doesn't have to be long. Many teachers create an iBook for a unit of study!
To get started, you first need to identify the unit of study you'd like to use for the book. Think of the way you have your digital files saved to your computer. You probably have folders that include materials for one particular topic. That folder of materials can now be put into an interactive iBook that includes Word or Pages documents, PDFs, images, videos, hyperlinks, interactive quizzes, an interactive glossary with study cards, and more.
Once you have an idea in mind, to get started with the book, you will need to download iBooks Author on your MacBook by going to the app store. In the search bar in the upper right hand corner, search for iBooks Author. Once it appears on the screen, click Get to download to your device.
While iBooks Author is downloading to your Mac, pick up your iPad and go to iTunes U. Open the app and go to the upper left hand corner and tap on the plus sign. Choose to enroll in a course. Enter the following code: DMD-TYP-ARB. This will enroll you in a course called iBooks Author. It is a course I put together solely for the purpose of getting an instructional iBook to you. Once you have enrolled in the course, tap on the materials icon at the bottom of the screen. An iBook will appear in the upper right hand corner. Tap the cloud with the arrow to download the book to your iPad.
The book you just downloaded has everything you need to get started with iBooks Author. In it, you will find video tutorials to walk you through the tools and options in iBooks Author. It will also walk you through the creation of a book. You won't even need to read the text if you watch the videos because they include the same information. You can watch the video tutorials on your iPad while you work on your Mac to create a book! Rewind and re-watch as many times as necessary!
The most important thing to remember when working with iBooks Author is to be patient. It is a new tool, and it takes a little time to get comfortable with it! Be patient with yourself and iBooks Author. It will be well worth it in the end! By the time you finish your first book, you will be ready to start a second one, and the process will be so much faster!
